184,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj in 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony released Hajj policy 2019 on Monday, as per policy 1,84,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj this year.
According to Hajj policy released by the Ministry, the applications under Government Hajj Scheme will be received in the fourteen designated banks from 25th of this month to 6th of the next month.
Hajj scheme 2019 shall be implemented through Government and private Hajj Group Organizers with the ratio of 60:40.
Dues under Government Scheme will be 436,975 rupees for Northern region, which include Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot, Faisalabad Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, while 426,975 rupees will be received for Southern region, which include Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur.
Qurbani charges 19,451 rupees will be optional and there shall be no free Hajj this year.
The selection of Hujjaj under Government Scheme will be made through computerized balloting on 8th of the next month. This year, 10,000 seats would be reserved for senior citizen above the age of 80 years.
Another 10,000 seats would be reserved for persons who have been unsuccessful in ballot continuously for the last three years. Under Government scheme, 1.5 percent of the total seats will be reserved for hardship cases.
Five hundred seats will be reserved for labour and low paid employees of companies registered with Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) sponsored by their respective organizations under their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Opposition in Senate rejects increase in Hajj expenditures
On Feb 1, the opposition parties in the Senate has rejected government’s decision to increase the Hajj expenditures.
Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, who tabled the calling attention notice, said that the government had carried out a drone attack on the Hajis.
He questioned dismissal of the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ request for the subsidy.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the government is trying to enhance the income as well. “Those chanting the slogans of the change should consider their own slogans,” he said.
PPP’s Raza Rabbani asked the Minister for Religious Affairs has not turned up, whether he is annoyed with the government. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also stressed the need for giving a subsidy to Hajis.
